Buzzards.Pdf
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• The following pages have some identification markers for each of the Buzzards found in India • To know more on these birds you can visit http://ogaclicks.com/buzzard • If you are interested in Coming on any of my tours or workshops please share your email id. I will keep you updated • Mail me at [email protected] • You can also call me on (91)9840119078 , (91) 9445219078 (91) 6369815812 Raptors at a glance Raptors : Any of numerous carnivorous birds that hunt and kill other animals Derived from Latin word rapere : To ravish Characterised by Hooked Beak, Talons and Flying abilities required to hunt & kill prey Steppe Tawny ©www.ogaclicks.com Buzzards Buzzards are birds of prey belonging to Buteo genus ( Also called as Hawk in some parts of the world) Buzzards have a robust body and broad wings. The trailing edges of the rounded wings are Dark. They are good hunters preferring to hunt rodents , reptiles & medium sized birds They are Polymorphic & usually most of them are difficult to differentiate on the field Leading edge is slightly curved inside Non prominent “wrist” Steppe 5 -6 Fingers The trailing edges of (primaries) Adult Buzzards are Dark giving it a Dark outline Trailing edge is curved outside ( rounded wing) Shorter tail ©www.ogaclicks.com List of Buzzards found in India Sno. Name Binomial Name 1 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 2 Himalayan Buzzard Buteo burmanicus 3 Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus 4 Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus 5 Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius 6 White- eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa ©www.ogaclicks.com ©www.ogaclicks.com 55cm Common Buzzard 55 cm Buzzards Height Comparison ( Avg ( Comparison Height Buzzards Himalayan Buzzard Crested Hawk Eagle 60 cm Long-legged Buzzard 60 cm Oriental Honey Buzzard 70 cm Upland Buzzard . ) Mountain Hawk Eagle45 cm White-eyed Buzzard COMMON BUZZARD Common Buzzard Identification Tips – B.b.vulpinus Common Buzzard : Buteo buteo vulpinus : Wide spread (Sporadic) winter visitor in India Dark brown Iris Brown head & crown Black tipped beak with yellow cere Brown Upperparts Brown Underparts with white suffusion Darker Wings compared to body, barred wing feathers Yellow feet with black talons Brown tail Wing tips reach the tail Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Common Buzzard Identification Tips – Face Common Buzzard : Buteo buteo vulpinus : Wide spread (Sporadic) winter visitor in India Dark brown Iris Black tipped beak with yellow cere Yellow thing gape ending before the centre of the eyes Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Common Buzzard Identification Tips – Flying Common Buzzard : Buteo buteo vulpinus : Wide spread (Sporadic) winter visitor in India 5 fingers Adult Dark outline to the trailing edge of wings Juvenile Dark Brown underwing coverts White secondaries with black barring Pale Brown White patch at underwing No dark outline base of primaries coverts to trailing edges of wings Pale Brown barred Brown barred tail with dark tail with pale edges edges Streaked underparts 5 fingers Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com HIMALAYAN BUZZARD Himalayan Buzzard Identification Tips Himalayan Buzzard: Buteo burmanicus : Resident of Himalayas & winter visitor to North East India Brown head & crown Dark brown Iris Black tipped beak with yellow cere Underparts are whitish with Brown Upperparts rufous-brown blotches and streaks Darker Wings compared to body, barred wing feathers Yellow feet with black talons Brown tail Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Wing tips reach the tail www.HBW.com Himalayan Buzzard Identification Tips Himalayan Buzzard: Buteo burmanicus : Resident of Himalayas & winter visitor to North East India Brown Iris Black tipped beak with yellow cere Yellow thing gape ending before the centre of the eyes Pic ©Manish Mandhyan, https://www.manishmandhyan.com/ Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Himalayan Buzzard Identification Tips- Flying Himalayan Buzzard: Buteo burmanicus : Resident of Himalayas & winter visitor to North East India 5 fingers Juvenile Adult Dark outline to the trailing edge of wings Light Brown underwing coverts White secondaries with black barring No dark outline to trailing edges of wings Dark carpal patch Dark carpal patch Brown barred tail Pale Brown barred tail Underparts are Streaked underparts whitish with rufous- brown blotches and 5 fingers streaks Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Wing tips reach the tail www.HBW.com LONG-LEGGED BUZZARD Long-legged Buzzard Identification Tips Long-legged Buzzard : Buteo rufinus : Winter Visitor to Himalayas ,North, East & North West India Pale brown head & crown Black tipped Yellow brown Iris beak with yellow cere Rufous streaked nape & neck Brown streaks on Buffish white breast Rufous Brown sides of breast Upperparts going down to flanks Rufous belly & Underparts Darker Wings compared to body, barred wing feathers Yellow feet with black talons Buffish white breast Rufous thighs Brown unbarred tail Wing tips longer than the tail Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Long-legged Buzzard Identification Tips Long-legged Buzzard : Buteo rufinus : Winter Visitor to Himalayas ,North, East & North West India Yellowish brown Iris Black tipped beak with yellow cere Yellow thin gape ending before the centre of the eyes Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Long-legged Buzzard Identification Tips- Flying Long-legged Buzzard : Buteo rufinus : Winter Visitor to Himalayas ,North, East & North West India 5 fingers Dark outline to the trailing edge of wings Light Brown underwing coverts White secondaries with black barring Dark carpal patch Brown non-barred tail White patch at base of primaries Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARD Oriental Honey-Buzzard Identification Tips-P. p. ruficollis Oriental Honey-Buzzard : Pernis ptilorhynchus ruficollis : Widespread resident except North West India Well-developed nuchal crest Grey head Black tipped Female beak with grey Brown head Grey face cere Dark Moustachial stripe Dark Gular stripe Rufous barred Brown Underparts Upperparts Darker Wings compared to body, barred wing feathers Yellow feet with black talons Brown barred tail with cark brown subterminal band Wing tips longer than the tail Male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Oriental Honey-Buzzard Identification Tips-P. p. ruficollis Oriental Honey-Buzzard : Pernis ptilorhynchus ruficollis : Widespread resident except North West India TYPICAL PIGEON LIKE HEAD Yellowish Iris Male Yellowish Iris Female Black tipped beak with grey cere Grey gape ending before eyes Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Oriental Honey-Buzzard Identification Tips- Flying Oriental Honey-Buzzard : Pernis ptilorhynchus ruficollis : Widespread resident except North West India 6 fingers Light Brown underwing coverts Banded Tail Brown median & lesser coverts Two wingbars Primaries are Barred Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com UPLAND BUZZARD Upland Buzzard Identification Tips Upland Buzzard: Buteo burmanicus : Breeds in Ladhak & winter visitor to Himalayas in India Whitish head & crown Black tipped beak with Whitish nape yellow cere Brown Upperparts Large brown spots irregularly distributed in upper breast and abdomen Tarsi is fully Dark brown feathered brown Underparts Yellow feet with black talons Darker Wings compared to body, barred wing feathers White tail with dark bars Wing tips end before the tail Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Upland Buzzard Identification Tips Upland Buzzard: Buteo burmanicus : Breeds in Ladhak & winter visitor to Himalayas in India Brown Iris Black tipped beak with yellow cere Pic © Rajesh Panwar, https://aviantrails.in/ Yellow thin gape ending before the centre of the eyes Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Upland Buzzard Identification Tips-Flying Upland Buzzard: Buteo burmanicus : Breeds in Ladhak & winter visitor to Himalayas in India 5 fingers Dark Carpal Patch Brown median & lesser underwing Barred Brown coverts Secondary feathers Dar trailing edges White underwing with black barring Dark carpal patch Large brown spots irregularly distributed in upper breast and abdomen 5 fingers Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com WHITE-EYED BUZZARD White-eyed Buzzard Identification Tips - Juvenile White-eyed Buzzard: Butastur teesa: Widespread resident in India except North East India White Forehead Brown head & crown Black tipped Brown iris beak with yellow cere Brown nape Buff Chin & throat Brown Brown Upperparts underparts with white streaks Brown coverts with white streaks Yellow Legs Darker Wings compared to body Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Yellow feet with black talons ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com White-eyed Buzzard Identification Tips - Adult White-eyed Buzzard: Butastur teesa: Widespread resident in India except North East India